AAZ Serpertine belt won't fit

[steevz]

Okay,

So driving home from work one day my serpentine belt broke on my 93 AAZ Golf. I got another belt for the car, it has no special accessories and it was a 923 (I think) size. I wouldn't fit, didn't seem to even come close. So I got the belt one size up 1025 (I think), it also doesn't fit, far too big. Only way I could get my car running is by making the belt round around the water pump so it's being spun in the wrong direction. Which obviously is causing cooling problems.

Has anyone ever encountered a problem like this?


Also:

My serpetine tensioner or alt pulley squeeks like crazy. I replaced the tensioner roller, same problem. Would the actual tensioner itself make a lot of noise.. the belt bounces quite a bit. I was thinking of getting a clutched alt pulley.

[8v-of-fury]

The next size up from a 923 is a 1025?? There is 4 inches of difference there.. They lied to you.

[steevz]

Well, it was for the VW belts.. because NAPA couldn't just look at their inventory and find one a bit bigger.. bastages

[libbydiesel]

If you don't have A/C the serp belt should be 1045.  If you do have A/C it should be 1145.  It sounds like you either have an issue with your tensioner or your belt routing is wrong. 

[burn_your_money]

How did you mount the belt on the water pump the wrong way? You have it only slightly contacting the pulley on the inside?

[srgtlord]

Once you get the proper sized belt it sounds as if you need to rebuild your tensioner.... Bushings, arm ,seals and tensioner can all be found at http://idparts.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=29_90

I ended up using CV joint grease to lube the tensioner arm.

Here is a nice HOW-TO

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q/a3b4/tdi-cold-chirp-noise.htm


On a slightly unrelated note: HOLY MOLY!!! The harmonic balancer has gone up in price almost 3 fold in 5 years! I picked mine up for 60 buckaroos....